Article support



Feb. 17, 1948. R. w. ROSENDALE ARTI CLE SUPPORT Filed Aug. 3, 1944 FIG. 2

FIG. 3

INVENTOR 'RWROSENDALE A T TOR/VEV Patented Feb. 17, 1948 ARTICLE surronr Robert W. Rosendale, Westfleld. N. 1., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. 1., a corporation of New York Application August 3, 1944, Serial No. 547,923

This invention relates to article supports, and more particularly to bases for electrical units and the method of making the same.

Numerous electrical units. such as vacuum tubes, include bases formed of moldable material in which given numbers of hollow terminal pins are disposed for receiving the leads of the electrical elements in the units. The leads are soldered or partially embedded in solder in the hollow terminals and the life of the units ofttimes depends upon the maintenance of the electrical connections between the leads and their terminals. It has been found important,-therefore, that the terminals be positively held against rotation in their apertures to assure against breakage of the leads embedded therein.

Objects of the invention are to provide a base for an electrical unit wherein, through the aid of an efdcient method, the terminals are locked against rotation. j

With these and other objects in view. the invention comprises a base for an electrical unit which is constructed through the successive steps of forming an annular groove in one surface of the base with an aperture in the base at the groove to receive a hollow terminal, and forming the adjacent end of the terminal to force portions thereof outwardly into engagement with the said surface and force other portions thereoiinto the roove.

Other objects and' advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanyin drawing, wherein Fig.1 is airagmentary front elevational view of the base and terminals aboutto be assembled by an apparatus through the aid of which the method may be practiced;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end eievational view of one git tlie forming tools of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-8 of Fig. 2:

Fig. 4 is a topplan view of the base after the terminalshave been assembled therein, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In the present embodiment the base, indicated at It, selected to illustrate the invention is for an electrical unit. namely a vacuum tube. and is cylindrical in general contour, with a closed end It having inner and outer surfaces 12 and Id. In the present illustration four hollow terminals II are to be assembled in the base iii. these ter- 1 identical in structure and includin 3 81a. (El. 173-361) shoulders it positioned short of their upper ends. The machine illustrated in Fig. 1, through the aid of which the method may be practiced for assembling the terminals in the base iii, includes a support H with a circular arrangement of apertures l8 therein formed to receive the terminals It; The shoulders I oi the terminals, when in position for assembly, will rest upon an upper surface iii of the support ii. Apertures 2B are formed in the end ll of the base I 6 to receive the terminals i5, these apertures being disposed in circular arrangement as illustrated in Fig. 4. An

annular groove 22. of a given depth illustrated in Fig. 5, extends transversely of the apertures 20 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The upper portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 illustrates a reciprocate head 25 upon which is mounted a support It. the latter having apertures 21 in circular arrangement therein to receive reduced ends 28 of forming tools 29. The forming tools is are identical in structure and are provided with locating pins to to assure their accurate mounting in the support 28. The lower ends of the tools 29 are identical in structure and are of the contours illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Considering the tool shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a rounded. somewhat conical, end 32 thereof is receivable in the upper end of its respective terminal [5, the' surface thereof merging into a rounded annular surface 33 to Jointly cause the inner end of its respective terminal to be bent outwardly. as indicated at 34, until its leading edge engages the surface it. At opposing sides of the projecting end 32 arcuate forming portions 36 are disposed, these portions having widths substantially equal if not smaller than the width of the grooves 22, with sharp cutting edges 31 to cut portions 88 and cause these portions to be forced into the groove 22. as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

As a result of the method the base for an electrical unit is provided with apertures to receive terminals the inner ends of which project into the base, distances, limited by the shoulders it which rest upon the surface I! of the supp rt ll during the forming of the inner ends of the terminals. During the forming operations the inner ends of the terminals are not only bent outwardly so that, in cooperation with the shoulders l6,

positive mounting of the terminals in the base is assured, but'portions w of these inner ends of the terminals are forced into the adjacent portions of the annular groove 22 to lock the terminals against rotation. Furthermore. the lockin portions 38 of the terminals are arcuate in gen- 3 oralcontonr tocloselyooniormtothe adjacent portions olthe annulargrooveso that the terrainals are locked against any possible rotary movement.

Themethodstepsthereioreincludetheiormlng oithebesewithanapertureoraperturestoreoeive hollow terminals, a groove being formed in onesuriaceoithebasetransverselywithrespect to the apertures, after which the terminals are inserted in the apertures, their adjacent ends bent outwardly, and portions thereof pressed into the groove to lock the terminals against rotation It should be understood that, although the terminals l5 and their respective forming tools are therein and an annular groove in one surface thereof traversing the apertures and being smallor in width than the diameters of the apertures, and hollow terminals disposed in each of the ep ertures with certain portions of their adjacent ends bent outwardly into engagement with'the said surface and other portions thereoi forced into the annular groove.

2. A base for an electrical unit comprising a. body having a circular arrangement of apertures oi varied diameters therein and an annular groove in one surface thereof traversing the apertures 4 andbeingsmallerinwidththanthe diameteroi the smallest aperture. and hollow terminals of varied diameters disposed in their respective epertures with certain portions of their adjacent ends bent outwardly into engagement with the said surface and other portions thereo! unbodded in the groove.

. 3. A base for an electrical unit comprising a body having a terminal receiving aperture therein and substantially diametrically opposed recessesinonesuriaceoithebodyopeninginto the aperture and being oi. equal depths throughout their lengths and breadths, and a believerlindrical terminal. having a shoulder intermediate its ends. disposed in the aperture a distance limited by the shoulder engaging one suriace oi the body and having portions of its adjacent end forced outwardly into engagement with the other surface 01 the base and substantially diametrically opposed portions thereof forced into the recesses to secure the terminal against rotation in the aperture of the base.

ROBERT W. ROSENDALE.

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,656,356 Gagnon Jan. 17, 1928 2,36,166 Hurlemnn Apr. 11, 19% 2,233,067 Alden Feb. 25, 1941 2,163,779 Drawing June 27, 1939 1,612,653, Olson June 6, 1933 2,125,713 Draving Aug. 2, 1938 1,900,099 Ferguson Mar. 7, 1933 

